Organisation set up in 1966 and member of Emmaus International since 1971.
Emmaus Helsinki is a group made up of volunteers. The work is spread between two second-hand shops: one is in Vallila, the other in Lauttasaari. To ensure the groups activities run smoothly, the group has 80 volunteers and a staff member in charge of coordination. Together, they carry out the usual work of Emmaus communities: collecting, sorting, repairing and selling goods at low prices.
Using the income from its activities, Emmaus Helsinki supports Finnish organisations working with homeless people and poor families. It also finances projects run by Emmaus groups in Indonesia (Yayasan Penghibur), Peru (Cuna Nazareth) and South Africa (CORDIS).
Emmaus Helsinki is active in the Poland-Ukraine Collective of Emmaus Europe supporting Emmaus groups in Eastern Europe both financially and with containers.
Through Emmaus Europe, the group also supports anti-trafficking work in Lithuania. For the volunteers, recycling, reuse and anti-consumerism are important issues, and the group wants to set an example of an eco-friendly way of life. Some of the volunteers have formed a sewing group that meets regularly to make new creations out of discarded material.
Lastly, the volunteers take part in various events with which Emmaus Helsinki is involved, such as the annual multicultural World Village festival, during which the group organises solidarity sales.
